FAIRY MOM AND ME

Ella’s mom is a great mother but a highly inept Fairy Mom.

When Ella’s mother wiggles her bottom and says the magic word, she sprouts shimmery wings and a shiny crown and turns into a fairy. Unfortunately, even when she’s using her Computawand, her spells all go far awry, with funny, topsy-turvy consequences. Still, Ella’s there to provide advice (since she will become a fairy when she reaches adulthood and clearly already has some talent), providing some mildly amusing role reversals. Fairy Mom’s difficulties aren’t Ella’s only problem. Mean girl Zoe lives right next door, and both Fairy Mom and Zoe’s mother think that means they should be best friends—but Zoe is one of those kids who seems so sweet when adults are around but otherwise is quite nasty. The historical default for fairies is overwhelmingly white, and Ella and her mom and Zoe are all shown that way in Kissi’s lively illustrations. Ella’s friend Tom is depicted with dark skin. The plot in this early chapter book is driven only by the amusing fairy failures; character development is minimal. A series of uninspired discussion questions intended for “Family Activities” follows the brief text.

Fun stuff for the fairy-focused but otherwise predictable and superficial, even for so young an intended audience.